AMBULANCE staff are swapping their blue lights for the limelight as they stage a charity pantomime in memory of a former colleague.

The Blue Light Company Theatre is putting on the Fairytale of Hypochondria at Acomb Working Men's Club with all proceeds to be divided between MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association) and York Against Cancer.

The company was originally formed by Yorkshire Ambulance Service members to perform a ‘one-off’ pantomime following the loss of their much-loved colleague, Sally Waudby, of Forest Grove, York, to motor neurone disease at the age of 50.

As a paramedic, Sally saved many lives and supported numerous people involved in emergency situations.

After her diagnosis, and weeks before she passed away in 2012, her ambulance friends helped raise £12,000 for an eye gaze computer so she was able to communicate when she became so ill she was unable to move or speak unaided.

The equipment went on to help other patients, and her friends decided to continue with their efforts.

Their first show, Snow White And The Five Ailments, raised funds towards a computer to help motor neurone disease patients treated at York Hospital.

It was such a hit, the team threw themselves into another round of rehearsals for a second panto, Aladdin of Aagrahphobia, last year, and are now busy preparing for their third family fundraiser.

Written by Perri Ann Barley, an ambulance dispatcher from Haxby, and directed/ produced by her paramedic husband Craig, the show features colleagues, Sally's daughter Beth and members of other theatre groups.

It is a new story featuring several fairytale characters, including Buttons who takes the audience on a journey into the land of Hypochondria where everyone is always happy until the ultimate Baddie comes to town.

"We are a bunch of ambulance service staff and we started this a few years ago when it was supposed to be a one-off in memory of Sally who died of Motor Neurone disease," said Perri, whose children, Kristian, aged 12, and Kalayna, nine, are performing as Peter Piper and Poppet the Mouse.

"I started writing this in January last year when we finished the last show," added the 41-year-old.

The opening music to be played this year has been recorded by Headlands Primary School choir.

Tickets cost £10 adults, £5 under 14s from www.bluelight-theatre.co.uk or phoning 07933329654.

Performances are at 7.30pm from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 January at Acomb Working Mens Club in York.